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Two Lords and former Head of Communications elected Honorary Members

26 August 2016

Lords Kerslake and Taylor and Tino Hernandez have been awarded Honorary Membership of the RTPI.

Honorary Membership is awarded to a distinguished individual who has made an outstanding contribution to helping promote the art and science of town planning.

Phil Williams, RTPI President said:

“I am thrilled to welcome our new Honorary Members of the Institute. Their passion for town planning has made them excellent ambassadors for our profession. Through their work with the Institute they have contributed to its reputation as the authoritative champion of planning and planners.”

Lord Kerslake

Lord Kerslake has championed planning throughout his career including in his most senior roles, including as the Head of the UK Civil Service and as Permanent Secretary at the Department for Communities and Local Government. He is the Chair of the Peabody Trust and President of the Local Government Association. He chaired an IPPR commission into affordable homes in London. He was elevated to the House of Lords as a crossbench peer in 2015. He has experience championing planning across the highest level of the public service with a strong interest in communities and local government policy, inclusing as the First Chief Executive of the Homes and Communities Agency. In 2015 he called for more and better planning to deliver increased housing supply while delivering the RTPI's Nathaniel Lichfield Lecture. Lord Kerslake is pictured with RTPI Vice President Stephen Wilkinson.

Lord Taylor

Lord Taylor is a nationally acknowledged expert in planning, housing and sustainable development. In particular, he has made a significant contribution to rural planning issues over 30 years, including as Special Advisor to the government. He conducted major national planning policy reviews for Labour and Conservative-Liberal Democrats Coalition governments. He was instrumental in the transformation of the government’s planning practice guidance. Lord Taylor is pictured with Rosslyn Stuart, Director of Professional Standards and Development.

Tino Hernandez

Tino Hernandez was the Head of Communications and Public Affairs at the RTPI for over 10 years until June 2016. He has been an outstanding ambassador for the planning profession enhancing the reputation of the RTPI with members, the public, government, the development industry and other stakeholders. Prior to joining the RTPI he was the chief communications advisor to two council leaders on all planning related matters, and was lead officer for the planning Cabinet member for the planning committee in Enfield (London). Tino is pictured with Past Presidents Colin Haylock (left) and Peter Geraghty (right).

Honorary Members receive lifetime membership of the Institute. See who the RTPI elected into Honorary Membership in 2015 and 2014.